Sheldon Brown's streak comes to an end

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Browns cornerback Sheldon Brown, left, tries to break up a pass intended for Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas during the first quarter Sunday in Denver. Brown was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Steelers, ending his consecutive games played streak at 175.

BEREA -- Sheldon Brown's amazing streak of never missing an NFL game has come to an end, and his Browns teammates feel his anguish.

Brown has played in 175 straight games since being drafted by the Eagles in 2002, including the past 47 with the Browns. The right cornerback has played with ankle injuries, sore knees, muscle pulls and bum shoulders, but the trainers can't tape up this one; he suffered a concussion on a blindside hit by Broncos receiver Brandon Stokely last week in Denver and has not been cleared by doctors.

"I feel for him," said Browns sixth-year left tackle Joe Thomas, who has never missed an offensive snap in his career with the Browns. "I know how bad he wanted to be out there. It's tough. You kind of get this warrior mentality that you can play through everything. After playing in 170-some games, it's going to be really hard for him to watch, I'm sure, if he can even get himself to watch.

"If I were sitting in his shoes it would be hard to watch because I would be so overcome with emotions. I would miss being with my teammates so much. It would just be too much. If he does watch, I wouldn't be surprised if he cries."

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Brown suffered a shoulder injury in the opener. Coach Pat Shurmur sent him onto the field for one play the next week late in the game in Cincinnati so the streak would be maintained, but Shurmur can't even do that on Sunday when the Browns conclude their season in Pittsburgh. Strict protocol must be followed before a concussed player is cleared. Tight end Jordan Cameron is missing his second straight game with a concussion.

"It's killing him," linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. "He wants to play. He won't show it sitting at his locker, that's what type of guy he is. Records aren't anything, but there's something to be said about a guy who's never missed a game in five years, let alone 11."

The Browns played the Bills in the third game and Brown was back in his starting role one week after his cameo in Cincinnati. From 2004-2011 he missed only one start, back in 2008 with the Eagles.

"Not to have his presence out there, with all the changes that we've had on our end and throughout this team with injuries, he's one guy that you always knew when I'm calling the play, he's going to look me in the eyes," Jackson said. "You know you have that security blanket over there.

"I just feel bad for him, man. I know he wants to play, and it's something he can't control. Physically he feels fine but when you're dealing with a head you have to be cautious about it. He's playing smart about it."

Brown, 33, is in his final year with the Browns. He would like to re-sign, but isn't sure that will happen if Tom Heckert is fired as general manager. Heckert was G.M. in Philadelphia when Brown played for the Eagles and acquired Brown plus linebacker Chris Gocong in a trade for linebacker Alex Hall, a fourth-round pick in 2010 and a fifth-round pick in 2010.